Back with a v70 mk2 and a question regarding lights

[gsxf1100]

Morning.

I just bought another volvo.
It's a 2004 v70.

I ordered some 80 watt bulbs which I put in over the weekend.
H7 and hb 3 - already exchanged the sidelight bulbs for smd

Reason, the yellow 55 watt bulbs are not the brightest compare to my 99 with hid bulbs.
Driving a lot country lanes at night, light is essential for me.

So, I noticed the fog lights (factory) don't work since I bought the car.
No fuse, so replaced the fuse.
Checked the sockets for power and when I opened the fog light plugs some cheap bulbs fell out and no power is going to the contacts. Seemed those bulbs didn't even connect or fit the factory plug for it.

I was going to get new bulbs, but there the cheap options, some with black contact plugs and led.
(asking because I don't know which bulbs to order as the old ones didn't seem they should be there in the first place)

Which ones is recommended to give a nice bright white light and how do I access the easiest way the relais for the fog lights to exchange or check it is working?

It seems this board above the pedals are a nightmare to get to. Unless there is another way to check the relais before breaking your back, arms and fingers. Lol

All ready playing with the idea of replacing the factory fogs with aftermarket and install a new relais for it connecting it to the factory switch.

Any ideas, help, or suggestions welcome.
Thanks

[Georgeandkira]

Maybe the previous owner tried to install fogs on a car which didn't have 'em to begin with.
Factory units from somewhere but didn't know to initiate them with the VIDA tool. It'd explain no power and possibly the cheap bulbs you described.

[gsxf1100]

I thought first it maybe was a bumper from a different car, but it all seems to be lined properly.
Same colour too.

The switch has the fog light switch which works since I put a fuse in but still nothing to the plugs.

Someone on fb said about a relais above the pedals, but this is a pain and near unable to see anything never mind the relais.

[reggit]

Drop out the black panel under the drivers side of the dash and you’ll see the bottom of the CEM, the relays are accessible. One is the fuel pump, if fitted the one next to it is the fogs. Both relays are the same. A trick is switching the relays if the fuel pump fails, so there’s possibly a duff one in the fog light position.
Unfortunately it’s been a while since I had a P2 and can’t remember now which of the 2 is the fog lamp relay.

[gsxf1100]

Okay. Thanks.
Is there an easy way to remove this panel or lower it to access them relais as I can't get myself into the footwell to see what's up there. Lol

[Georgeandkira]

No, there's no way to feasibly extend the wiring so said panel can drop down.

Find a limber friend to reach the relays. I've read here and there that actuation of the fog lights needs to be done with VIDA. I do not know if the switch sends juice to the lamps or to the CEM which then sends juice to the lamps.

You might just have to hard wire a new, separate switch and relay to the battery -just like in the old days- if you intend to avoid going to a dealership for said programming.

[stuart bowes]

Or just find some blanking plates, spray them the right colour if necessary and remove the fogs seeing as 99.99999999% of the time people just use them for literally no reason at all or because they think it makes them look like Colin mcrae on a rally stage or something lol

No but seriously though are they really even necessary, my last 2 cars didn't have them and the 2 before that that did, never once got switched on IIRC

The rear I can understand but even then most of the time you only ever see them used when people obviously don't realise they're on and probably don't know how to turn them off

[Georgeandkira]

"No but seriously though are they really even necessary, my last 2 cars didn't have them and the 2 before that that did, never once got switched on IIRC"

So true. My Subaru (long gone) and Ford trucklette, Sis' Mazda, wifey's Saabs and now her Mazda and other cars' fogs have delivered no improvement in vision ever. They're appearance options as far as I can tell.

Swivel spotlights are perennial faves here and the hand held spot is common. Only the young ones have LED bars mounted on their woods-trucks.

IF (big if) you're in a constantly foggy place and you move forward with this project, consider yellow lamps as they cut fog better.

[gsxf1100]

I Did think about removing the factory style ones and putting high beam spotlights in it connecting to headlight beam.
I found some dual ones.
White for beam and yellow for fogs.
They just don't fit in the hole, they a lot smaller.
So may see if I find a blanking plate. And for the new ones cut the feed of the original fogs, run a new wire from the original switch to an external relais and the yellow fog light.

I know yellow light go's better through fog.

The headlight beam can be split over a fuse hookup so no extra cutting or switch involved.

Would anyone know how to get those blanking plates or is it something self-made out of hard plastic?

Thanks

[stuart bowes]

Well I was just thinking of pulling them off a non-fog bumper like a breakers or something . Do they just pop out like on some cars or is the bumper moulded as one piece.

Cutting a piece of plastic and hot glue from behind would be strong enough I'm sure

To be honest you could just leave them there and not use them that's another option. But i could understand personally how that would annoy me being there but not working it would get on my nerves I have to admit